Hi Paul,
English is not my native language, so you might ignore my comments on
this one. I just feel a need to be supportive anyway ;-)
>
>
>===============================================
>
>July 20, 2001
>
>Mr. Mark Reinhardt
>Associate General Counsel
>J.D. Edwards World Solutions Company
>One Technology Way
>Denver, Colorado 80237
>
>Dear Sir:
>
>This is in response to your letter dated July 11, 2001. I have been using
>the acronym JDE to refer to the Java Development Environment for Emacs on
>my web site and elsewhere since 1997. I use the acronym simply as shorthand
>for my software package's formal name. I have no intention of competing
>with any product or service of J.D. Edwards or creating the impression that
>I am in any way associated with J.D. Edwards.
>
>In the four-and-half years that I have used JDE, I have received thousands
>of communications regarding my package. Yours is the first to mention J.D.
>Edwards. This plus the facts that J.D. Edwards let its registration of JDE
>with the U.S. Patent Office expire in 1998 and that it has not attempted
>unto now to contact me regarding my use of JDE constitute prima facie
>evidence that my use of JDE has not, in fact, created any confusion or harm
>to J.D. Edwards.
>
>On the other hand, the acronym JDE has become synonymous over the last
>four-and-a-half years with the Java Development Environment for Emacs in
>the Emacs and Open Source software communities where I and my package are
>well known. Complying with your demand to cease using the acronym on my web
>site and elsewhere would create confusion in these communities and would
>cost me time that I can ill afford as a private individual who receives no
>monetary benefit from the Java Development Environment for Emacs.
>
I don't understand why 'On the other hand' is needed here. In dutch (my
native language), I would remove that since I feel it weakens the
sentence. Just 'The acronym JDE has become synonymous...' would do
better imho.
>
>
>I therefore respectfully request that you not contest my right to use the
>acronym JDE further. By so doing, J.D. Edwards would show the Emacs and
>Open Source communities that J.D. Edwards is a good corporate citizen.
>
I don't know for sure, but it might help to post such a request to
slashdot after you have received a letter of them that tells you you're
free to use JDE. Free publicity!
>An
>examination of my web page should convince J.D. Edwards that my usage of
>this acronym in no way creates the impression that I am in any way
>associated with J.D. Edwards or that I am offering any software or service
>that competes with a J.D. Edwards offering. However, I would be willing to
>include an explicit disclaimer of any association with J.D. Edwards on my
>web page.
>
Wouldn't it be an idea to include an explicit disclaimer right now? You
might even include a link to J.D. Edwards. Just to show you're cooperative.
>
>
>I will be away on vacation next week and will not be able to respond to
>J.D. Edwards' response to this letter until the following week.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>Paul Kinnucan
>
I hope you have a wonderful time and a lot of sunshine during your vacation.
regards,
Richard.
